FM requires VERTICAL polarization, not horizontal like SSB/CW/digital. I'd go with a simple vertical antenna. The chimney would do much better than your attic.

As far as opening being for all modes, I strongly disagree. There are many, many weak openings when SSB/CW will work and FM just won't. FM, with it's relatively large bandwidth and capture effect, needs strong openings. Also, there are many times when I hear lots of SSB/CW stations and FM *should* work but it is silent. Again, 95%+ of CW activity is SSB.

I still prefer FM and channelized operation in the car. When I ran HF/6m SSB I felt that I was likely to cause an accident. For me the FT-8900R is perfect for mobile but not much else.

Many "openings" on six meters are marginal and just won't support FM contacts, which require stronger signals. I often find myself working "double hop" E-skip on six via CW because signals are so weak that even SSB doesn't work well.

Then, a really BIG "opening" can create signals so strong that FM works fine.

A bigger, higher antenna will provide many more contacts than a smaller, lower one.

Yep you should look to see what repeaters are on what freq. If the band isn't open and you dont have a repeater in the area you probably won't hear much of anything. Keep the rig on the 6m calling freq. in those situations.

I have made quite a few contacts from EL96 (SW Florida) this summer on 52.525 - Many in Texas and Arizona, as well as New York, Delaware, Maryland and the Carolinas. My setup is simply a mobile FT-8900 and a Larson NMO-50. But the openings have lasted only for a half hour or so, with the exception of Memorial Day, which lasted most of the day. 6 meters takes some patience, but it can be a lot of fun! Don’t give up, and listen for those brief but exciting openings!

If all you hear is noise then where is your antenna and what is the antenna?

I use a Tentec 6n2 for SSB and on occasion 6m FM and with a 6m EDZ wire I had more than a few good QSOs on FM (you gotta hunt for them) from MA to the midwest on a mere 20W. Off the 4element beam they went from noisy to good quieting.

However for local work 6m FM should do good range as I've worked a 50mi radius just testing one day.

FYI: if you are trying 6m FM mobile, well unless your antenna is at lest 1/4 wave and mounted high don't expect much unless the band is really killer open or your talking a repeater.

There is plenty of activity on 10 meter FM and 6 meter FM. Dont forget that these bands "open" up for Sporadic E and sometimes F layer QSOs. 144 & 440 are not capable of opening up for DX QSO's. Having a quad band rig when the band is open is alot of fun. Ill buy your quad bander if you get bored of it.

I've recently on 6m gotten into the 53.230 repeater on Mt. Greylock, MA and the KQ2H repeater in New York, NY on 53.730 from my home here in North Carolina. Also I regularly have been hearing and getting into 29.620 KQ2H Repeater in New York, which comes in around 60 + S9 when the band is hopping on my 33 ft. longwire with my AH-4 Icom Tuner. Also the W1OJ 29.620 comes in nicely too from Mass.

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